Why did Michigan adopt a new Probate Code?
On April 1, 2000, a new probate code, the Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC) became effective in Michigan. EPIC replaces the Revised Probate Code, which was in effect since 1979. The drafting of EPIC began about 10 years ago because many practitioners believed the old probate code, which was a combination of the Uniform Probate Code and Michigan’s 1939 probate code, could use some improvement. The Uniform Probate Code, drafted by University of Michigan Law School professor Richard V. Wellman, was published in 1969 by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. It was developed to provide guidance and a template for more uniformity among the states’ probate laws. In varying degrees, many states have incorporated portions of the Uniform Probate Code in their state probate codes. EPIC follows the 1969 Uniform Probate Code much more closely than did Michigan’s old probate code, but also includes provisions unique to Michigan that EPIC’s developers believed wo
